Last fall About Town profiled local trainer Megan Adams. She mentioned she had just started the Carnivorous Diet, so we checked in to see how it's been going.

My carnivorous lifestyle that started as a fad-diet experiment is now eight months old. I  still love it when someone asks about my diet, or how I eat. It has proven to be simultaneously the simplest explanation and the most challenging comprehension. I eat animal products, and a nominal amount of nuts - mostly almonds. I  call it “carnito”: carnivore (strictly animal products) + keto (the nuts). *Initiate confusion and insert dumb-founded facial expression.


Q & A firestorm ensues:

> Yes, animal products ONLY (with the exception of nuts-mostly-almonds to increase my fat intake).

> No, that does not include any variation of produce or anything grown from the ground, as these things are not in fact animal products.

> Yes, I  still consume alcohol (tequila and Topo).

> No, I  do not weigh or measure anything. I eat when I’m hungry, and stop when I’m not hungry anymore.

> The same four foods all day, every day: eggs, meat (predominantly beef and bacon), butter, nuts.

> No, I do not eat chicken.

> No, I do not miss other things. As a matter of fact, the longer I  stick to a carnito lifestyle, the less frequent and intense my cravings or taste for anything else. Actually, I  can count on one hand the number of meals I’ve had that are not fully carnito-adherent since June 2020.

> I am not deficient or lacking anything, per my most recent doctor visit. I  take a multivitamin and beef organs supplement daily that provide sufficient vitamins and micronutrients.

> It’s as hard as any intentional nutrition lifestyle that requires forethought, commitment, and consistency. I  jokingly say no one can be “carnivore-ish”; that’s just called fat.

> No, I do not think it’s ideal for everyone. I do not think anything is ideal for everyone.

> No, I have no plans to change or stop any time soon.

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Pros:

  • Loss of body fat, and consequentially weight (an initial goal of mine)
  • Increased mental clarity
  • Decreased inflammation throughout, including joints and sinuses
  • Better sleep
  • Greater muscular endurance
  • Increased strength and stamina
  • Increased digestive health
  • Increased libido
  • Simplified grocery shopping and meal preparation
  • Increased and extended satiation with meals

Cons:

  • Bad breath
  • Inconvenience away from home or apart from serious planning  and preparation
  • Occasional boredom with the lack of variety
  • The only people that understand are fellow carnivores. My diet choices are personally offensive to more people that you would believe.

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My husband has been following a very similar version of a carnito lifestyle for about three months now. He enthusiastically claims the same benefits. Weight GAIN being his goal, after an initial dip we made a few changes to his diet, and have watched the scale steadily climb.

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All said, the pros far outweigh the cons. Turns out a carnivore diet is a fad-experiment-turned-lifestyle for this girl, and I’m in it for the long-haul.

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If you have any questions fell free to drop me line: mtadams1@gmail.com!